Reid On QB Situation: ‘We’ll Evaluate As We Go’

At what point, Andy Reid was asked at his day-after press conference, does he consider making a quarterback change if the turnovers continue to pile up the way they have through three games?

“Right now we’re with Michael [Vick], and that’s what we’re doing,” said Reid. “We’ll evaluate as we go.”

It was an interesting response from the head coach. It suggests that he has not shut the door on a quarterback switch if the struggles mount. It tells us that he’s open to maybe trying a life raft on for size if it’s clear the main vessel is taking on too much water.

Reid certainly has learned from his experiences over 13-plus years in Philadelphia to not paint himself into a corner when it comes to his starting quarterback. And maybe this is a little PR wisdom shining through. Or maybe it’s more than that.

“We need to coach better, we need to prepare better, and we need to play better,” said Reid. “One of the obvious things is…is that you cannot turn the football over against a good football team and expect to win. ”

The Eagles now have 12 turnovers on the season. Vick is credited with nine of those.

Asked if Nick Foles needs to see some reps with the first team at practice given all the hits Vick is taking, Reid said, “No. No. Not right now.”

Other highlights from the presser:

* Reid said he anticipates Jeremy Maclin (hip) back this week. Jon Dorenbos has a high ankle sprain; Fletcher Cox left the game with a migraine headache, and apparently has a history of those; Akeem Jordan has a hamstring strain. Riley Cooper will have his collarbone checked by a doctor Monday. King Dunlap “is getting better with a hamstring strain but if we had practice today he wouldn’t practice.”

* On the pass-run imbalance: “We thought we had some opportunities down the field in the throwing game. We went in thinking we would protect a little better than we did and be able to exploit some of the things we felt were our strengths and who we matched up best against. And it didn’t happen…We need to make sure our mix is better than it was yesterday, and that’s my responsibility to make sure that happens.”

* Reid on the decision to take a shot on 3rd-and-goal from the one-yard line with six seconds left in the first half. “We started the [set of downs] with 16 seconds. I figured we would get our full downs in shooting it into the end zone. Now it has to come out quick and so on, but those are the calls that are made. And if that didn’t work, you kick the field goal.” Instead, Kerry Rhodes came clean and separated Vick from the ball, and James Sanders returned it 93 yards for a killer of a touchdown.

* Reid says he hasn’t given any thought to moving Steve Vallos ahead of Dallas Reynolds at center. Similarly, he said Demetress Bell would remain at left tackle if Dunlap can’t go.